A. M. 
With 57 votes, the Legislative Assembly amended Article 2 of Legislative Decree No. 485, which authorizes a loan of up to US$195 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the modernization of El Salvador International Airport.
The amendment will allow the funds to be transferred to the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA) as a non-reimbursable capital contribution, instead of being provided as funds that must be repaid, as originally stipulated in the decree.
Change in the financing structure
The approved adjustment redefines how the international loan funds will be channeled. Instead of CEPA receiving the funds with an obligation to repay them directly, they will be incorporated as capital, facilitating their use in expansion and modernization projects at the airport terminal.
The measure aims to expedite investment in airport infrastructure, in a context where the country has reported an increase in the arrival of tourists, investors, and visitors.
Arguments in favor of the reform
Nuevas Ideas Party Representative William Soriano argued that El Salvador continues to strengthen its capacity to receive thousands of tourists, making it logical for the government to invest in productive infrastructure.
According to the legislator, the airport needs greater capacity to meet the growing demand, and it is the responsibility of the Legislative Assembly to ensure that the Executive Branch has the necessary financial tools to expand the infrastructure.
Soriano also stated that the country maintains a favorable position in various regional indicators and pointed out that investing in productive infrastructure represents a worthwhile investment for the salvadoran population.
Expected impact
The airport modernization is part of strategic projects aimed at strengthening air connectivity and the country’s competitiveness. With greater operational capacity, it is expected to improve the user experience, facilitate trade, and attract more foreign investment.
The reform, approved with 57 votes, allows progress to be made in the execution of IDB funds under a financial structure that, according to its proponents, will facilitate the development of the planned works to expand and modernize the country’s main airport terminal.
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